Sob: Bye-bye Unlimited Subscription (Sob)

Sob!!! Today is the day that my unlimited subscription to the Silhouette Design Store Ends. Sob. It was so much fun, a total blast, but it is gone. I have downloaded over 3000 designs, but that is done.

I had made the decision not to renew BEFORE Sil decided to change their structure. They totally did away with the unlimited downloads, which totally upset people. I can see both points of view: people were downloading every single design, which pretty much meant after a couple thousand that Sil was losing money; as for the customers, well, unlimited was a SWEET deal. As for me, however, I have 3268 designs, including those that came with the machine and the upgrade, and the ones from Postcard, the only cd I purchased. That's more designs than there are days in the year. Heck, that's enough to use one a day for NINE years. If I couldn't use my OK dies everyday, I sure as heck am not going to be using all my Sil designs anytime soon.

I do scrap, I love to scrap, but unfortunately, lots of what I scrap lately doesn't come on either QK or Sil. I have had to create my own. Last night, Sheryl helped me create designs using Google Images, Paint and my Sil software. I now have nunchuks, two types of kamas, sais and the Kanji for honor. Right now I am going to use them a bit more than the 50+ flowers I have....

So, goodbye dear Unlimited; you were wonderful, thrilling, as I checked the store everyday, downloading obsessively (how else do you explain 2 bassinets when my kids are 8 & 11 - and never even used a traditional bassinet?) and suggesting the same stuff over and over. I will miss you, but on the bright side, there will be less to back up! (DH makes me back-up every design, just in case. I am 400 or so behind.)

Tomorrow's withdrawal is going to be tough....

New Sil Blade Works!

I am so happy that the blade arrived and that it works! Turns out that I did NOT need a new housing - at least not for this blade. QKMary was right: not all blades are equal. Of course, this is the balde that I ordered, not the one promised to me by Brian from SilMac.

To try the blade,I cut out tags for a friend's daughter's MA bag and they were perfect (and crossing my fingers while biting my nails might have helped.) Well, at least until my small laminator ruined the best one by having a crease run right down the middle length-wise. Actually, it was more like a long, thin air bubble. Must have fed it wrong.

I cannot win.

Since I have had time to think, a new idea occurred to me: using my Copic Sketch Markers in the Sil instead of the pen. I tried one for size and with a bit of padding, it might just work....

I am ever the optimist!

Frank to the Rescue!!!

Today I was the most frustrated I have been in a long time! My Sil would not cut AT ALL. I tried several times on several pieces of paper y NADA. I felt really bad because I was trying to help Sandy's DD with her Destination Imagination project.

After awhile, Sandy & I noticed that we couldn't see the blade. I was sure I had the cap on wrong. I even wrote SilMac to see what could have happened. Then I saw the picture of a blade on the Sil site and the difference was immediately apparent: the good blade has an angle, mine has a sort of round, jagged end. OOPS!

I posted on SRWMB for Guru Frank's help. He knew exactly what I had done - when I changed the blade, I had lost a little white piece, which I thought was unimportant. I was so very wrong. It is a very necessary piece, a spacer.

Frank told me to contact Sil for a new housing piece. I will do that tomorrow. Until everything arrives (I had to order a new blade online), I can only draw with my Sil.

Bummer. Major Bummer.

Maybe David should change it next time.....

Sil Frustrations

Could someone please explain why certain shapes on the Sil cut like butter and others cut like my blade is a sharpened stone??? I cut two hearts, the scribble and the lace heart. Guess which one cut and removed easily? Wrong! It was the scribble. I had to remove the pieces of lace using my CutterBee's, not something I enjoy.

Did I mention that I cut them at the same time, they were sharing the paper?


IT JUST DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!!!

Oh, btw, even though you should be able to reduce designs down to 1/4 inch on the Sil, I am never sure which ones will actually work. I tried shrinking an elephant, a giraffe and the rhino down to just under an inch - and let's just say that there was a lot of tearing. I put in a black pen and they came out nicely, and I cut them by hand. Then, they didn't work for what I wanted. Bummer.

I still love my Sil, I am just a bit frustrated right now. But, if everything worked the way it is supposed to, I wouldn't be the Scrapklutz.

A Bit More Research Was Needed

I really should read up on things BEFORE buying them! And by that, I mean ALL the information. I researched what kind of air compressor to get, going with one that was recommended by an employee at Hobby Town, and even what kind of air hose - but what I totally pushed to one side were the markers. There are different types of Copics. I know I have seen that, but it just didn't seem important. It was. Very.

Turns out that I bought the Ciao. The Copic Airbrush is set up for the Sketch. You can use the Ciao, but it is a bit more work. Once you figure out how to pop the Sketch markers in correctly, they work like a dream.

Oh, and those numbers on the markers DO mean something - blending. I really didn't think I would need that. I was wrong. The colors I bought today have too much contrast, but the ones from last week (the Ciao) blended much better.

So, I guess I will use what I have - and research more in the future. Oh, and I need to post a pic of the dragon. It is so cool!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!!!!

It was a scrappy-licious birthday! Sandy went up to RW with me as my Jiminy Cricket, much to DH's relief. She basically makes sure I don't spend too much by helping me to question my wants. She's a great friend.

Well, I dropped off my DT items. Man, am I going to miss being on the DT. I think next month is our last. It has been so much fun, so challenging, but it is now someone else's turn to have the limelight. I might try again in the future, but I am not sure.

I also picked up my QK Calendar layaway. I cannot wait to make Mom's 2011 calendar with that!!! My creative juices are really exploding with that set. My 7 Gypsies ATC holder was there (already paid), as was the Copic Air Brush set - both of which weren't exactly as I had pictured. The ATC Spinner didn't come with any of the sleeves! Bummer. The CAB didn't come with the hose - but that can be rectified when we buy the air compressor, hopefully on Friday.

I bought 7 Copic Ciao Markers. Those are going to be for airbrushing only until I use up the rest of my dozens of markers. I also finally remembered the replacement strips for my Tim Holtz hand sander!!! I found a great stamp with Chinese words, which turned out to be 'thanks', great for thanking those who help with the belt tests. Last, but not least, a compass mask from Tim Holtz that coordinates perfectly with the stamp and Glimmer Screens from Tattered Angels.

I feel so inspired - now to find the time!

All in a wonderful, scrappy birthday!

All Fonts Lead to Star

It was DH's idea that I get a font or two, when I first got into Quickutz. He thought that in the long run it would be cheaper than buying alpha stickers, most of which would get wasted since what I really need is lots of the letter 'a' since DD alone has three in her first name, and one each in her middle and our last name, and DS has 1-2-1. I was hesitant, but we eventually decided on QK Star - with shadows. Man, was that expensive! Then I decided on Indigo Classic, followed by Marisa Classic. The minis of these followed, then a few more and now I have over 20 alphas. We won't even go into how many I have with the Sil...

And, in spite of that, DH still prefers Star and Indigo. Sometimes it makes me wonder why I got anything past Marisa.... Funny thing, Sandy also loves Star, but she can't find all the shadows. I guess you never forget your first alpha love.....